How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Cedar Rapids, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Pharmacy Techs in Cedar Rapids, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Cedar Rapids metro area
A typical Pharmacy Tech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa earns $21.12 per hour, or $43,930 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,661 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,510, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,150.
That pay is 2% below the Iowa figure of $44,860 and 4% below the national figure of $45,750. Cedar Rapids ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 390 Pharmacy Techs work in the Cedar Rapids area.
Pharmacy Tech pay in Cedar Rapids at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.12 an hour, or $43,930 a year.
- That is 2% below the Iowa figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,510; the top 10% make over $52,150.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in Cedar Rapids?
Pay in Cedar Rapids runs from entry-level positions at around $17.55 an hour to more than $25.07 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay by career stage in Cedar Rapids
| Career stage | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,510$17.55 an hour | $36,140$17.38 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,450$18.01 an hour | $37,790$18.17 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $43,930$21.12 an hour | $44,860$21.57 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,780$22.97 an hour | $48,670$23.40 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,150$25.07 an hour | $52,150$25.07 an hour | $61,040$29.35 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Cedar Rapids area as BLS defines it
Pharmacy Tech pay growth in Cedar Rapids
Typical (median) annual wage for Pharmacy Techs in the Cedar Rapids area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Pharmacy Tech pay in Cedar Rapids was $29,520 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,930, a change of +49%, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How Cedar Rapids compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Pharmacy Techs the most in Iowa at $46,620 a year, $2,690 more than Cedar Rapids. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $39,310.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cedar Rapids | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $46,620 | $22.41 | +6% | 1,160 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $45,100 | $21.69 | +3% | 250 |
| 3 | Davenport | $45,080 | $21.67 | +3% | 550 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $43,930 | $21.12 | this city | 390 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $43,820 | $21.07 | 0% | 210 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $43,500 | $20.91 | -1% | 460 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $40,950 | $19.69 | -7% | 270 |
| 8 | Ames | $39,310 | $18.90 | -11% | 140 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $44,860
Is Cedar Rapids a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Tech pay in Cedar Rapids sits close to the national figure: $43,930 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Cedar Rapids area, about 2.8 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 3.1. Pharmacy Tech jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in Cedar Rapids earns $43,930 a year, or $21.12 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,510 and the top 10% earn over $52,150.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in Cedar Rapids is $21.12. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.55, and the top 10% earn over $25.07 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in Cedar Rapids?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in Cedar Rapids typically offer around $17.55 an hour, or $36,510 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in Cedar Rapids higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Cedar Rapids pay is 2% below the Iowa figure of $44,860 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $46,620.